Ensuring resilience of a business function by managing resource availability of a mission-critical project

ABSTRACT

A method and associated systems for ensuring resilience of a business function manages resource availability for projects that perform mission-critical tasks for the business function. The method and systems create a model that reveals dependencies among types of resources needed by a project, such that the model describes how the unavailability of one instance of a resource propagates disruptions to other instances of the same type of resource. This model automatically identifies a resource type as being critical if a disruption of an instance of the resource type would render a project task infeasible, and if restoring that task would incur unacceptable cost. The model may also automatically identify a first resource type as being critical for a second resource type when disruption of the first resource type reduces the available capacity of the second resource type to an unacceptable level.

This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser.No. 15/161,412, filed May 23, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,922,305, issuedMar. 20, 2018, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 14/249,782, filedApr. 10, 2014, U.S. Pat. No. 9,400,970, issued Jul. 26, 2016, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 13/483,492, filed May 30, 2012, U.S. Pat. No.8,843,936, issued Sep. 23, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to automatically identifying criticalresources in an organization.

BACKGROUND

Business-continuity planning is the process of ensuring that businessfunctions remain uninterrupted despite the occurrence of natural,man-made, or environmental threats, and may involve building resilientsystems that can overcome risks identified during system assessment.

Business-continuity planning may consist of the following steps:

1. Identifying and prioritizing business-critical systems, functions andresources;

2. Identifying critical resources;

3. Identifying potential threats and preventive controls to mitigaterisk;

4. Designating responsibilities;

5. Implementing and maintaining a business-continuity plan; and

6. Validating the business-continuity plan.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A first embodiment of the present invention provides a method forautomatically identifying critical resources of an organization, whereinsaid organization comprises a plurality of projects, wherein a projectof said plurality of projects comprises a plurality of resourceinstances, wherein a resource instance of said plurality of resourceinstances is associated with a resource type of a plurality of resourcetypes, and wherein a disruption of a disrupted resource type of saidplurality of resource types results in an unavailability of a unit of aresource instance of said plurality of resource instances, said methodcomprising:

a processor of a computer system receiving one or more dependencyrelationships, wherein a dependency relationship of said one or moredependency relationships relates an independent resource type of saidplurality of resource types and a dependent resource type of saidplurality of resource types, and wherein a first disruption of saidindependent resource type results in a second disruption of saiddependent resource type;

said processor determining a capacity of said dependent resource type,wherein said capacity is a function of an initial disruption of aninitially disrupted resource type of said plurality of resource typesand wherein said capacity is a further function of said one or moredependency relationships;

said processor categorizing said initially disrupted resource type asbeing critical for said dependent resource type, wherein saidcategorizing is a function of said capacity of said dependent resourcetype.

A second embodiment of the present invention provides a computer programproduct, comprising a computer-readable hardware storage device having acomputer-readable program code stored therein, said computer-readableprogram code implementing a method for automatically identifyingcritical resources of an organization, said method implemented byexecution of said program code on a processor of a computer system,wherein said organization comprises a plurality of projects, wherein aproject of said plurality of projects comprises a plurality of resourceinstances, wherein a resource instance of said plurality of resourceinstances is associated with a resource type of a plurality of resourcetypes, and wherein a disruption of a disrupted resource type of saidplurality of resource types results in an unavailability of a unit of aresource instance of said plurality of resource instances, said methodcomprising:

said processor receiving one or more dependency relationships, wherein adependency relationship of said one or more dependency relationshipsrelates an independent resource type of said plurality of resource typesand a dependent resource type of said plurality of resource types, andwherein a first disruption of said independent resource type results ina second disruption of said dependent resource type;

said processor determining a capacity of said dependent resource type,wherein said capacity is a function of an initial disruption of aninitially disrupted resource type of said plurality of resource typesand wherein said capacity is a further function of said one or moredependency relationships;

said processor categorizing said initially disrupted resource type asbeing critical for said dependent resource type, wherein saidcategorizing is a function of said capacity of said dependent resourcetype.

A third embodiment of the present invention provides a computer systemcomprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and acomputer-readable hardware storage device coupled to said processor,said storage device containing program code configured to be run by theprocessor via the memory to implement a method for automaticallyidentifying critical resources of an organization, wherein saidorganization comprises a plurality of projects, wherein a project ofsaid plurality of projects comprises a plurality of resource instances,wherein a resource instance of said plurality of resource instances isassociated with a resource type of a plurality of resource types, andwherein a disruption of a disrupted resource type of said plurality ofresource types results in an unavailability of a unit of a resourceinstance of said plurality of resource instances, said methodcomprising:

said processor receiving one or more dependency relationships, wherein adependency relationship of said one or more dependency relationshipsrelates an independent resource type of said plurality of resource typesand a dependent resource type of said plurality of resource types, andwherein a first disruption of said independent resource type results ina second disruption of said dependent resource type;

said processor determining a capacity of said dependent resource type,wherein said capacity is a function of an initial disruption of aninitially disrupted resource type of said plurality of resource typesand wherein said capacity is a further function of said one or moredependency relationships;

said processor categorizing said initially disrupted resource type asbeing critical for said dependent resource type, wherein saidcategorizing is a function of said capacity of said dependent resourcetype.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a process forsupporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing atleast one support service for at least one of creating, integrating,hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable program code in acomputer system, wherein the program code in combination with thecomputer system is configured to implement a method for automaticallyidentifying critical resources of an organization, said methodimplemented by execution of said program code on a processor of acomputer system, wherein said organization comprises a plurality ofprojects, wherein a project of said plurality of projects comprises aplurality of resource instances, wherein a resource instance of saidplurality of resource instances is associated with a resource type of aplurality of resource types, and wherein a disruption of a disruptedresource type of said plurality of resource types results in anunavailability of a unit of a resource instance of said plurality ofresource instances, said method comprising:

said processor receiving one or more dependency relationships, wherein adependency relationship of said one or more dependency relationshipsrelates an independent resource type of said plurality of resource typesand a dependent resource type of said plurality of resource types, andwherein a first disruption of said independent resource type results ina second disruption of said dependent resource type;

said processor determining a capacity of said dependent resource type,wherein said capacity is a function of an initial disruption of aninitially disrupted resource type of said plurality of resource typesand wherein said capacity is a further function of said one or moredependency relationships;

said processor categorizing said initially disrupted resource type asbeing critical for said dependent resource type, wherein saidcategorizing is a function of said capacity of said dependent resourcetype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart that illustrates a method for automaticallyidentifying the critical resources of an organization, wherein saidmethod conforms to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart that illustrates step 117 of FIG. 1 in moredetail, wherein step 117, in conformance with embodiments of the presentinvention, identifies a total resumption cost directly or indirectlycaused by a disruption of an initially disrupted resource type v.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of a computer system and computer programcode that may be used for automatically identifying critical resourcesof an organization, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, computer programproduct, computer system, and process for automatically identifying thecritical resources of an organization.

Aspects of the present invention may be components of a largerbusiness-continuity plan, wherein such a plan is designed to help anorganization maintain acceptable levels of service during a crisis.

An organization may leverage a network of resources in order to maintainone or more “projects,” wherein a project may be associated with aservice provided to the organization's clients. A project may requireone or more instances of one or more types of resources, and a minimumthreshold capacity value may be associated with a combination of projectand resource instance. If the capacity of a resource instance availableto a project falls below the minimum threshold capacity value associatedwith the project and the resource instance, the project may be rendered“infeasible,” or unable to provide a service.

Capacity of a resource type or resource instance may be measured in anyappropriate units. In examples, a capacity of a resource type “networkbandwidth” may be measured in units of Kbps or Mbps, the capacity of aresource type “lighting” may be measured in lumens, and the capacity ofa resource instance “data center rack space” may be measured in linearfeet, open rack units, or square meters.

A resource type may be associated with more than one project. A resourceinstance may be associated with more than one project. The selection ofa resource type to be associated with a resource instance may be afunction of the primary type of service provided by the resourceinstance.

Resource types may include, but are not limited to, wirelesscommunications bandwidth, network-backbone bandwidth, network switches,electrical power, computer data storage, fuel reserves, heaters,air-conditioners, floor space, inventory, capital, consumables, andpersonnel.

Resource instances may include, but are not limited to, a particularcomputer data center's electrical power (a possible instance of aresource type “electrical power”), a RAID Type 1 disk-drive array (apossible instance of a resource type “computer data storage”), a fieldof oil tanks (a possible instance of a resource type “fuel reserves”),and help-desk technicians (a possible instance of a resource type“personnel”).

Resource types and resource instances are implementation-dependent andmay vary significantly from the above examples. An entity that isconsidered a resource type in one embodiment may be considered aresource instance in another embodiment.

A project may be assigned one or more resource instances according torules that may be recorded in one or more allocation procedures. In anexample, an Internet Service Provider organization might offer a serviceor project P that provides 1 Mbps of network bandwidth to a customer. Toprovide this service, P might require a communications server, siteelectric power, backbone bandwidth (which may comprise software,cabling, and a rack of communications gear), and a system administrator.In a variation of the current example wherein the organization hasdefined “computer,” “power,” “bandwidth,” and “computer staff” resourcetypes, an allocation procedure A0 might fill P's resource-typerequirements with assets that represent resource instances of theresource types required by P. A0 thus might allocate to P acommunications server CS-201 (an instance of “computer” resource type),site electric power (an instance of resource type “power”), 1 Mbps ofbandwidth on Ethernet LAN L01-4 (an instance of resource type“bandwidth”), and a system administrator (an instance of resource type“computer staff”).

In another example, a project P1 may require exclusive access to a“server” resource type configured with a unit license of a“network-management software” resource type. An allocation procedure A1might comprise instructions to allocate to P1 a server 302-2 located inbuilding S302, to install a licensed copy of Rev. 2.1 network-managementsoftware on server 302-2, and to restrict access to server 302-2 suchthat no other project may access 302-2's services.

The above examples should not be construed to limit the complexity of orthe ways in which allocation procedures may be implemented inembodiments of the present invention. The business needs and internalstructure of an organization may dictate the form and content of theorganization's allocation procedures. Allocation procedures may berecorded on different media and may comprise complex or conditionalsteps, depending on the organization's needs and internal structure. Thecontent of an allocation procedure may be determined or influenced byimplementation-dependent prioritization factors, conditional steps, andother guidelines or constraints incorporated into allocation procedures.

Subtle or complex allocation procedures may be fully or partiallydetermined by or may comprise functions of the organizational,technical, or contractual constraints and priorities of one or moreprojects. An allocation procedure may comprise functions of theorganizational, technical, or contractual constraints and priorities ofthe organization as a whole.

An allocation procedure may describe how instances of resources areallocated or reallocated to one or more projects in response to adisruption of one or more resource types. A disruption of a resourcetype may result in an unavailability of one or more units of one or moreinstances of one or more resource types.

A disruption of, or the unavailability of one or more resource types, iscalled a “scenario.” Scenarios may comprise, but are not limited to,natural or manmade disasters, malicious attacks, software failures,equipment outages, scheduled maintenance operations, or workerunavailability. Planning ways to maintain business continuity during ascenario requires a way to identify “critical” resource types orinstances necessary to keep projects and services functional.

In practice, identifying critical resource types or critical resourceinstances may be a complex procedure that requires understanding ofsubtle, dynamic relationships among resource types, resource instances,projects, and organizational constraints, commitments, and priorities.Such identifying is often performed manually by employees of theorganization familiar enough with the organization's operations andstructure to make educated guesses about the resource criticality.Embodiments of the present invention improve upon such methods byaccurately, deterministically, and automatically identifying criticalresources.

In embodiments of the present invention, a minimum-capacity thresholdvalue ThrCap_(r) may be associated with a resource type r, whereinThrCap_(r) specifies the minimum capacity of r required by anorganization. Resource type v may be identified as “critical forresource r” if disruption of resource type v directly or indirectlyreduces resource type r's capacity to a value less than r'sminimum-capacity threshold value ThrCap_(r). The wording of thisidentification may vary, but in all cases, the underlying meaningremains the same: the availability of sufficient capacity of resourcetype v is necessary to maintain critical capacity of resource type r.

A project P that requires k resource types may be expressed as anordered pair (D,C), wherein D=(d₁, d₂, d₃, . . . , d_(k)) and eachproject resource-capacity threshold value d₁ equals the minimum numberof units of resource type i needed by P, and wherein C is a set ofadditional constraints on the ways that resource types may be used bythe organization.

P may be rendered “infeasible” (that is, become unable to provide itsprimary service) when the capacity of a resource type i available to Pfalls below the corresponding threshold value d_(i) associated with Pand i.

If a project P requires a resource instance i, P and i may be associatedwith a project resource-instance capacity threshold value ThrPrj_(P.i).P may then be rendered infeasible when a capacity of resource instance iavailable to P falls below the value of ThrPrj_(P.i). In otherembodiments, reduction of a capacity of a resource type r may result ina reduction of the capacity of a resource instance i available to P,wherein resource instance i is an instance of resource type r.

In an example, project P's requirements for resource type “bandwidth”might be associated with a project resource-threshold value d_(P.bw)=1Mbps. If equipment failures sufficiently disrupt resource type“bandwidth” to make it impossible to allocate 1 Mbps of resource type“bandwidth” to project P, then P may become infeasible and theorganization could no longer rely on P to service an affected customerwith 1 Mbps of bandwidth.

When a project is rendered infeasible by insufficient capacity of aresource type r, that project may be able to resume operation bysubstituting available units of another resource type for unavailableunits of resource type r. Such a resumption may incur resumption costs.

A procedure for resuming an infeasible project may be described in oneor more resumption plans. A resumption plan may comprise constraintsupon ways of substituting resources in order to resume an infeasibleproject. Such constraints may be described in one or moresubstitutability rules, as described below.

In an example, a power failure may render a project P infeasible byreducing the capacity of resource type “bandwidth” such that it isimpossible to satisfy P's requirement for 1 Mbps of resource type“bandwidth.” In such a case, however, it might be possible to resume Pby substituting available units of resource type “wireless bandwidth”for some or all unavailable units of disrupted resource type“bandwidth.” Such substitution might incur costs that may be a functionof the tasks of switching the project to a substitute network and ofinstalling substitute software on P's server. In addition to these“substitution costs,” some embodiments may also experienceproject-specific “time-delay costs” that may be a function of the amountof project downtime required to effect the substitution.

Resumption costs may be a function of a subset of substitution costs,time-delay costs, and other types of costs that may be directly orindirectly related to project resumption.

In an example, a project P may require a server configured with Rev. 2.1network-management software require and exclusive access to a high-speedLAN. If P becomes infeasible under a scenario S that make P's server anddedicated LAN unavailable, a resumption plan R might compriseinstructions to restore P to operation under scenario S by: allocatingto P the services of server M-25 located in building MEBP4; installingRev. 2.1 software on server M-25; switching the high-speed LAN ofbuilding MEBP4 to P: and stalling any other project that may require thehigh-speed LAN of building MEBP4.

The above example should not be construed to limit the ways thatresumption plans may be implemented or recorded. Resumption plans may becreated in many forms and may comprise complex or conditional steps,depending on the organization's needs and internal structure. Resumptionplans may address multiple simultaneous, concurrent, or overlappingscenarios.

A scenario may reduce the available capacity of a resource type orinstance, such that remaining capacity is insufficient to meet the needsof all projects. In a simple example, if scenario S1 reduces the totalcapacity of resource type “bandwidth” to 500 Kbps, then a project thatrequires 1 Mbps of bandwidth must become infeasible. In another example,if capacity of resource type “bandwidth” drops to 400 Kbps, a resumptionplan might comprise rules for deciding how to allocate bandwidth betweentwo projects that each need 300 Kbps of bandwidth.

Resumption plans may comprise subtle or complex allocation decisionrules or substitution decision rules, wherein at least one of thosedecision rules may be influenced by or determined as functions of theconstraints C of one or more projects P-(D,C). Resumption-plan decisionrules may be facilitated by implementation-dependent prioritizationfactors, conditional steps, and other guidelines or constraintsincorporated into allocation procedures.

A project P may be associated with a project resumption-cost thresholdvalue ThrRes_(P). In such embodiments, a resource type v may beidentified as “critical” if, should disruption of a resource type vdirectly or indirectly render P infeasible, a total cost Cost_(P) toresume project P exceeds P's resumption-cost threshold ThrRes_(P).

If a project P requires more than one resource type, an analogousproject resumption-cost threshold value ThrRes_(P.r) may specify adistinct resumption-cost threshold associated with a resource-specificcost to resume P, wherein said resource-specific cost is a function ofonly a direct or indirect effect of a disruption of a resource type r.

An organization may define a global resumption-cost threshold valueThrRes_(v) that sets a threshold value for the sum of all resumptioncosts of every project that is directly or indirectly renderedinfeasible (or “affected”) by a disruption of a resource type v. Inembodiments, a resource type v may be identified as “critical” if thevalue of ThrRes_(v) is exceeded by a cost to resume all projectsaffected by the disruption of resource type v. In other embodiments, aresource type v may be identified as “critical” if, when disruption ofresource type v directly or indirectly renders one or more projects ofthe organization infeasible, the value of ThrRes_(v) is exceeded by acost to resume a subset of affected projects.

Organizational personnel may define values of ThrRes_(P) (which containsa threshold value, as described above, for the resumption cost of asingle project P affected by a disruption of a resource type v) orThrRes_(v) (which contains a threshold value, as described above, forthe total resumption cost of all projects affected by a disruption of aresource type v).

Two resource types may be related by a dependency relationship, whereinthe total or partial disruption of a first (“independent”) resource typemay result in the total or partial disruption of a second (“dependent”)resource type. In some embodiments, such a dependency relationship mayspawn analogous dependency relationships between pairs of resourceinstances, wherein a resource type of an independent resource instanceand a resource type of a dependent resource instance in such a spawnedresource-instance dependency relationship both match correspondingresource types of an independent resource type and a dependent resourcetype in a more general resource-type dependency relationship.

In an example, a resource-type dependency relationship that identifiesresources of type “computer” as dependent upon resources of type “power”might spawn an analogous dependency relationship between an instance ofthe “power” resource type and an instance of the “computer” resourcetype. Such a spawned analogous relationship might, for example, allow anorganization to predict that a project P's “communications server”instance of resource type “computer” would become unavailable upon thefailure of P's “electric power” instance of resource type “power.”

In embodiments, a dependency relationship may define a relationshipbetween a first dependent resource type and a second independentresource type wherein the capacity of the first dependent resource typeis reduced, but not completely eliminated, by a reduction in capacity ora complete unavailability of the second independent resource type.

In some embodiments, resource dependencies may be limited to directionalrelationships. In an example of one such embodiment, a dependencyrelationship that identifies a server resource as unavailable during apower resource failure does not imply a converse dependency that wouldmake an electrical power resource dependent upon the availability of aserver resource.

Dependencies may be transitive. If, for example, resource A depends uponresource B, and resource B depends upon resource C, then A depends uponC. In an example, if the availability of bandwidth depends upon theavailability of a server and the availability of the server depends uponthe availability of power, then the bandwidth resource is unavailablewithout power.

Dependency relationships may be represented as one or more datastructures or mathematical objects, such as an array or matrix.

A set of dependency relationships that identify a plurality of resourcetypes upon which a resource type u is dependent may be represented as adirected graph. A directed graph is a mathematical structure comprisedof a set of values called nodes or vertices and a set of ordered pairsof those nodes. Each ordered pair is called an edge and the order of twonodes in an edge defines the direction of a one-way relationship betweenthose two nodes.

In an example, a directed graph DG might contain a set of nodes thatcomprise the first five letters of the alphabet, and a set of four edgesthat each define the sequence in which an adjacent pair of letters areordered in the alphabet:DG=({A,B,C,D,E},{(A,B),(B,C),(C,D),(D,E)})

In this example, each edge defines an alphabetic-ordering relationshipbetween two adjacent letters such that the alphabetic position of thefirst node of an edge immediately precedes the alphabetic position ofthe second node of that edge. Because the relationship defined by anedge of a directed graph depends upon the order of the edge's nodes,interchanging two letters in any of DG's edges would destroy DG'salphabetic ordering.

A set of dependency relationships that identify resource types uponwhich a resource type u is dependent may be represented as a directedgraph G_(u), wherein G_(u) may be known as a “dependency graph”associated with resource type u. Such a dependency graph G_(u) comprisesa set of nodes {u, v₁, v₂, . . . , v_(n)} and a set of edges that eachcontain an ordered pair of two nodes. In such a graph G_(u), every edgecomprises the node u and a node v₁∈{v₁, v₂, . . . , v_(n)}, wherein v₁represents a resource type i≠u upon which u depends and wherein each v₁is included in exactly one edge. In such a graph, an i^(th) edge thusmay describe a dependency relationship between the dependent resourcetype u and an independent resource type i. In such embodiments, such adirected graph G_(u) may specify that node u may function at fullcapacity only when all of nodes v₁, v₂, . . . , v_(n) function properly.

In some embodiments, the first node of each edge in a dependency graphrepresented as a directed graph may denote a dependent resource type andthe second node in each said edge may denote an independent resourcetype upon which the first node depends. In other embodiments, the orderof the two nodes in each edge may be reversed. But in all such cases,the ordering must be consistent among all edges in a dependency graphrepresented as one or more directed graphs.

In an example, if resources of resource type u depend upon resourcetypes a, b, and c, dependency graph G_(u) might comprise:G _(u)=({u,a,b,c},{(u,a),(u,b),(u,c)})

A scenario that comprises an initial disruption of a single resourcetype u may, through dependency relationships, result in a direct orindirect disruption of other resource types. Traversing anorganization's dependency graphs may identify other resource types thatare directly or indirectly disrupted as a result of a disruption ofresource type u. Such a set of disrupted resource types may be used topredict the initial disruption's cascading direct and indirect effectson projects that require disrupted resource instances or resource types,wherein said disrupted resource instances or resource types are directlyor indirectly disrupted when resource type u is disrupted.

An organization may define a unique geographic hierarchy graph G1,wherein G1 may be represented as a rooted acyclic directed tree with alledges directed away from the root. In other embodiments, G1 may berepresented as a different type of abstract or mathematical object ormodel.

If G1 is represented as a directed graph, each node or vertex of G1 mayrepresent a physical or virtual location and each edge may comprise anordered pair of nodes, wherein a first node of an ordered pairrepresents a more narrowly defined location and a second node of theordered pair represents a less narrowly defined representation of thesame location. In some embodiments, the order of nodes in each edge maybe reversed, but in all such cases, the ordering must be consistentamong all edges of a geographic hierarchy graph represented as adirected graph. The nodes or vertices of a geographic hierarchy graph asa directed graph may represent geographic locations associated with anorganization's projects, assets, resources, or other entities.

The root node of a geographic hierarchy graph as a directed graph maycontain a value that identifies the most general description of alocation of the organization. In embodiments, this root value mayidentify the country in which an organization is headquartered.

A complete path through such a geographic hierarchy graph might comprisea directed path from a root node that contains a value that representsthe country in which the organization's headquarters resides to a leafnode that contains a value that represents the graph's most narrowrepresentation of a location of one of the organization's projects,assets, resources, or other entity.

In one example, an edge of a geographic hierarchy graph might comprisean ordered pair of nodes that identify a location of a regionalswitching hub in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. In thisexample, the first (more general) node of a first edge might contain avalue that represents New York State. The second (less general) node ofthe first edge might contain a value that represents New York City. Asecond edge might extend the directed path of the first edge bycomprising an ordered pair that comprises a more general first node thatcontains a value representing New York City and a less general node thatcontains a value that represents the New York City street address of theorganization's regional switching hub.

If G1 is represented by an acyclic object or model, no path throughedges of G1 may traverse a same node more than once. All directed pathsthrough a geographic hierarchy graph represented as a directed graph mayextend from the graph's root node through one of the graph's leaf nodes.

In many cases, an organization may require only one geographic hierarchygraph or only one set of geographic hierarchy graphs, wherein said graphor graphs may be used to estimate a cost to substitute units of aresource and wherein that cost may be a function of a number of edgesalong a directed path of the geographic hierarchy graph between a nodeof the graph that represents a unit of a replaced or disrupted resourceinstance and a node of the graph that represents a unit of a replacingor substituting resource instance.

An initial result of a dependency-graph analysis under a conditionspecified by one or more scenarios may be modified by one or moresubstitutability rules that may specify a condition under whichavailable units of a replacing or substituting resource type or of areplacing or substituting resource instance may replace an unavailableunit of a replaced or disrupted resource type or of a replaced ordisrupted resource instance.

A substitutability rule may allow an organization to resume a projectrendered infeasible by a direct or indirect effect of a resource-typedisruption, wherein said rule allows said resumption by statingconstraints upon the ways that an unavailable unit of one or moreinstances of a replaced or disrupted resource type may be replaced byavailable units of a replacing or substituting resource instance of aresource type, wherein said unavailable unit had been renderedunavailable by a direct or indirect effect of said resource-typedisruption. Substitutability rules may be used to predict or estimate aproject-resumption cost, wherein said project-resumption cost may be afunction of a cost to resume one or more projects that had been renderedinfeasible by a direct or indirect effect of a disruption of one or moreresource types.

A substitutability rule may permit a project to resume even when two ormore scenarios overlap or occur simultaneously or concurrently. In oneexample, if project P1 becomes infeasible under scenario S1 because ofinsufficient capacity of resource type u under S1 and project P2 becomesinfeasible under scenario S2 because of insufficient capacity ofresource type v under S2, one or more substitutability rules may be ableto return one or both projects to operation by transferring availableunits of instances of resource type v from P1 to P2 or by transferringavailable units of instances of resource type u from P2 to P1.

In this and similar examples, such a solution fails when the totalavailable capacity of a resource type under a scenario is too low tomeet the demands of both projects under any conditions. In such cases,one or both projects may be resumed by substituting units of one or moreother types of resources for unavailable units of resource type u orresource type v. If, for example, 500 Kbps of available resource type“WiFi bandwidth” cannot satisfy the requirements of either of twoprojects that each require 600 Kbps of WiFi bandwidth, asubstitutability rule may enable both projects to resume by allowing the700 Kbps of unavailable WiFi bandwidth to be replaced by 700 Kbps of aninstance of an available resource type “satellite bandwidth.” In anotherexample, a project that requires resource type “mainframe computer” maybe resumed even if no “mainframe computer” resources are available if asubstitutability rule allows the substitution of an available resourcetype “Linux workstation” for unavailable “mainframe computer” resources.

A substitutability rule may specify a general relationship betweenresource types, wherein said general relationship may permit a firstnumber of units of an available resource type to be substituted for asecond number of units of an unavailable resource type. Such asubstitutability rule may be expressed as:{Rtype,(type₁,vol₁),(type₂,vol₂),(type₃,vol₃), . . .),(type_(n),vol_(n)}

where Rtype identifies the unavailable resource type that is to bereplaced, and each ordered pair (type₁, vol₁) specifies that one unit ofresource type Rtype may be replaced by vol₁ units of resource typetype₁.

A set of substitutability rules may not be transitive, meaning that afirst rule stating that units of a resource type A may replace a unit ofa resource type B and a second rule stating that units of resource typeB may replace a unit of a resource type C, does not necessarily implythat units of A may replace one or more units of C. Substitutabilityrules may be directional, meaning that a substitutability rule statingthat units of a resource type A may replace units of a resource type Bdoes not necessarily imply that units of B may replace one or more unitsof A.

A substitutability rule may define a relationship between a pair ofresource instances. A plurality of substitutability rules may describeconstraints upon ways that units of a first plurality of resource typesmay jointly replace units of a second plurality of resource types.

Consider, for example, a substitutability rule:{bandwidth,(shared cable bandwidth,1.5)}

that may specify that 1.5 units of resource type “shared cablebandwidth” may be substituted for a unit of resource type “bandwidth.”Thus, if project P requires 1 Mbps of resource type “bandwidth,” P wouldinitially become infeasible in scenarios that reduce available bandwidthcapacity to 900 Kbps, which is 100 Kbps short of P's requirement. But if150 Kbps of resource type “shared cable bandwidth” is available, theabove substitutability rule might allow P to resume by substituting 1.5units of resource type “shared cable bandwidth” for each unavailablerequired unit of resource type “bandwidth.”

Substitutions may incur substitution costs and time-delay costs.Substitution costs and time-delay costs may be a direct or indirectfunction of a distance between a physical location of an available unitof a substituting resource and a physical location of an unavailableunit of a disrupted, replaced resource. In embodiments of the presentinvention wherein a cost analysis may identify a resource type as beinga critical resource or as being critical for another resource type, suchidentifying may be implemented as a function of a substitution cost or atime-delay cost.

In summary:

-   -   ThrCap_(r) is the minimum available capacity of resource type r        required by an organization    -   A resource type v is identified as “critical for resource r” if        disruption of v directly or indirectly reduces the available        capacity of r to a value less than ThrCap_(r).    -   A project P that consumes k resource types may be expressed as        (D,C), wherein:        D=(d ₁ ,d ₂ ,d ₃ , . . . ,d _(k))        -   d_(r)=the minimum capacity of resource type r required by P,            and        -   C is a set of additional constraints on resource usage.    -   ThrRes_(r) is the cost to resume all projects rendered        infeasible by a disruption of resource type v.    -   Resource type v is identified as “critical” if a cost to resume        all projects affected by a disruption of v results in a        resumption cost exceeding a resumption-cost threshold        ThrRes_(r).    -   A dependency graph G_(v) states dependency relationships wherein        disruption of one or more independent resource types results in        disruption to a dependent resource v.    -   G1 is a geographic hierarchy graph that represents a geographic        distribution of an organization's resources.        Substitutability rule R={Rtype,(type₁,vol₁),(type₂,vol₂), . . .        (type_(n),vol_(n)}, where:        -   Rtype=an unavailable resource type that is to be replaced,            and        -   (type_(i), vol_(i))→1 unit of Rtype may be replaced by            vol_(i) units of resource type type_(i).

FIG. 1 is a flow chart that illustrates a method for automaticallyidentifying the critical resources of an organization, wherein saidmethod conforms to embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 includessteps 101-121.

A resource type v may be identified as “critical for resource r” ifdisruption of resource type v reduces a capacity of resource type r to avalue below a minimum-capacity threshold ThrCap_(r), wherein ThrCap_(r)may specify the minimum available capacity of r required by theorganization. In a trivial embodiment, v and r may identify the sameresource type.

A resource type v may be identified as “critical” if a total resumptioncost to resume all projects that have been directly or indirectlyrendered infeasible by a disruption of resource type v exceeds the valueof a resumption-cost threshold.

In step 101 of FIG. 1, the system is initialized. Initialization maycomprise modeling some or all of the business functions of theorganization, wherein said modeling may include, but not be limited to,defining entities and values that may include, but are not limited toprojects and services, resource types, resource instances, associationsbetween resource types and resource instances, threshold values,substitutability rules, resource dependency relationships, allocationprocedures, resumption plans, one or more geographic hierarchy graphs,constraints on the use of resource types, constraints on the use ofresource instances, and other parameters, definitions, structures,values, rules, thresholds, and procedures that an organization may deemnecessary and that conform to embodiments of the present invention.

Defined threshold values may include but are not limited to anythreshold values necessary for correct operation of embodiments of thepresent invention, including, but not limited to, a resource-typecapacity threshold value ThrCap_(r) for a resource type r, a projectresource-capacity threshold value d_(P.r) for a resource type r requiredby a project P, and a global resumption-cost threshold value ThrRes_(v)for a resource type v.

The initialization of step 101 may comprise definition ofsubstitutability rules for one or more resource types, definition ofresumption plans for one or more projects, and definition of allocationprocedures for one or more projects.

One or more threshold values, substitutability rules, resumption plans,or allocation procedures may be derived fully or in part from clientsof, employees of, or other persons or entities associated with theorganization. One or more threshold values, substitutability rules,resumption plans, or allocation procedures may be derived fully or inpart from third-party documentation, licensing agreements, serviceagreements, other contractual obligations, other documents, or somecombination thereof. One or more parameters, values, relations,definitions, rules, plans, and procedures may not be fully or partlydefined, assigned, or initialized.

In step 103, a resource-dependency graph G_(v) may be constructed foreach resource type v defined and initialized in step 101, according tothe dependency relationships defined and initialized in step 101.

Step 105 initiates an iterative process that comprises steps 105-121 andwhich may be repeated once for each resource type v.

Step 107 determines direct and indirect effects that a disruption ofresource type v may have upon other resource types. Said determining mayidentify an available capacity of a resource type in a scenario whereinresource type v is disrupted. Said determining may be performed bytraversing some or all of said dependency graphs constructed in step103. In embodiments wherein one or more dependency graphs arerepresented as directed graphs, said determining may be fully orpartially performed by traversing some or all directed paths of saiddependency graphs represented as directed graphs, wherein said traversalmay be implemented as any of the directed graph-traversal algorithmsthat are well-known to those skilled in the art of mathematicalmodeling. Step 107 may determine that a disruption of a resource type vmay directly or indirectly result in cascading effects upon thecapacities of a plurality of resource types.

Step 109 initiates an iterative process that comprises steps 109-113,wherein a set of iterations of the process initiated by step 109 may benested within an iteration of the process initiated by step 105, whereinan iteration of the process initiated by step 105 may be performed oncefor a resource type v, and wherein an iteration of said nested set ofiterations of the process initiated by step 109 may be performed oncefor a resource type r.

The iterative process initiated by step 109 may be performed for onlyaffected resource types r, wherein the capacity of an affected resourcetype r may be directly or indirectly reduced or otherwise affected by adisruption of resource type v.

Step 111 determines whether a disruption of resource type v directly orindirectly reduces the capacity of resource type r to a value belowresource type r's capacity threshold value ThrCap_(r). If a disruptionof resource type v may directly or indirectly reduce the capacity ofresource type r to a value below said ThrCap_(r), then step 113 may beperformed.

Step 111 may comprise other methods of determination that, rather thancompare the capacity of resource type r to a fixed threshold value,might select a default determination that may be a function of aresource type associated with the determination or of a resourceinstance associated with the determination, or might use other criteriato determine whether step 113 should be performed. Such determinationsmay, for example, compare the capacity of resource type r to a variablethreshold value, add contingent steps to the determination method, oremploy one or more threshold values that depend upon extrinsicparameters that may include, but are not limited to, time of day, seasonof the year, energy costs, environmental factors, politicalconsiderations, geographical constraints, economic factors, orconstraints on the availability of some combination of otherorganizational resources.

If a disruption of resource type v does not directly or indirectlyreduce the capacity of resource type r to a value below said ThrCap_(r),no action is taken and the iterative process initiated in step 109begins a next iteration for the next value of resource type r. Theseiterations of the iterative process initiated in step 109 continue untilthe iterative process initiated in step 109 has considered all possiblevalues of resource type r, at which point the iterative process of step109 terminates and step 115 may be performed.

Step 113 may be performed when step 111 determines that a disruption ofresource type v may directly or indirectly reduce the capacity ofresource type r to a value below resource type r's capacity thresholdvalue ThrCap_(r). In other embodiments, step 113 may be performed whenother determination criteria, as described above, are satisfied.

In response to this determination, Step 113 identifies resource type vas “critical for resource type r.” This identification may be phraseddifferently, wherein said different phrasing communicates thedetermination that a disruption of resource type v may directly orindirectly place resource type r in a critical state. Such differentphrasings may include, but are not limited to “resource v is criticalfor resource r,” or “resource r is critically dependent upon resourcev.”

After the completion of step 113, the iterative process initiated instep 109 begins a next iteration, wherein said next iteration considersa next value of resource type r. These iterations continue until theprocess initiated in step 109 has considered all permissible values ofresource type r, at which point the iterative process initiated by step109 terminates and step 115 may be performed.

Iterations of the iterative process of steps 109-113 may identify v ascritical for no resource types or for one or more resource types.

Step 115 identifies affected projects that are directly or indirectlyrendered infeasible by a disruption of resource type v. Saididentification may be a function of a list of critically dependentresource types created by one set of iterations of the iterative processof steps 109-113, wherein a disruption of resource type v directly orindirectly reduces a capacity of a critically dependent resource type ofsaid list of critically dependent resource types to a value less than avalue of a minimum-capacity threshold value associated with saidcritically dependent resource type.

Step 117 may identify a total resumption cost incurred by resuming allaffected projects that may be directly or indirectly rendered infeasibleby a disruption of a resource type v. In some embodiments, step 117 mayidentify a total resumption cost incurred by resuming a subset of saidall affected projects that may be directly or indirectly renderedinfeasible by a disruption of a resource type v. Some or all of saidaffected projects may have been identified in step 115.

A resumption cost may be a function of a combination of direct orindirect project-resumption costs that may include substitution costs,time-delay costs, and other costs that may be directly or indirectlyrelated to the resumption of one or more affected projects that may bedirectly or indirectly related to a disruption of resource type v.Resumption costs may be a function of other parameters, relationships,and entities that may comprise, but are not limited to, theorganization's substitutability rules, allocation procedures, resumptionplans, dependency relationships, geographic hierarchy, or distances in ageographic hierarchy between resource instances.

Step 119 determines whether said total resumption cost identified bystep 117 exceeds a resource type v resumption-cost threshold valueThrRes_(r). If said total resumption cost does exceed saidresumption-cost threshold, then step 121 may be performed. If said totalresumption cost does not exceed said resumption-cost threshold, then theiterative process initiated in step 105 begins a next iteration, whereinsaid next iteration considers the next value of resource type v. Saiditerations of the iterative process initiated in step 105 continue untilthe process initiated in step 105 has considered all permissible valuesof resource type v, at which point the iterative process of steps105-121 terminates and the process of FIG. 1 is complete.

In embodiments, step 119 may comprise determinations that, rather thancompare a total resumption cost to a fixed threshold value, might selecta default determination that may be a function of a resource typeassociated with said determination, a resource instance associated withsaid determination, or a funding source associated with saiddetermination, or might use other criteria to determine whether step 121should be performed. Such a determination may, for example, compare atotal resumption cost to a variable threshold value, perform contingentsteps, compare a total resumption cost to a different value orfunctional result, compare a cost that is determined in a differentmanner, or employ one or more threshold values that depend uponextrinsic parameters that may include, but are not limited to, time ofday, season of the year, energy costs, environmental factors, politicalconsiderations, geographical constraints, economic factors, orconstraints on the availability of some combination of otherorganizational resources.

If a step 119 determines that its test criteria are satisfied forresource type v, then step 121 identifies resource type v as criticaland the iterative process initiated in step 105 begins a next iteration,wherein said next iteration considers a next value of resource type v.These iterations continue until the process initiated in step 105 hasconsidered all permissible values of resource type v, at which point theiterative process of step 105-121 terminates and the process of FIG. 1completes.

Upon the completion of the last iteration of the iterative process ofsteps 105-121, embodiments of the present invention may haveautomatically identified a list of critical resource types and a list ofresource types that are each critical for an other resource type.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart that illustrates step 117 of FIG. 1 in moredetail, wherein step 117, in conformance with embodiments of the presentinvention, identifies a total resumption cost directly or indirectlycaused by a disruption of an initially disrupted resource type v. FIG. 2comprises steps 201-211.

A total resumption cost may be a function of a plurality ofproject-resumption costs, wherein a project-resumption cost of saidplurality of project-resumption costs may comprise a cost to resume anaffected project that has been directly or indirectly renderedinfeasible by a disruption of a resource type v.

In other embodiments, a total resumption cost may be a function of asubset of said plurality of project-resumption costs, wherein saidsubset may comprise a cost to resume a subset of all affected projects,wherein said affected projects have been directly or indirectly renderedinfeasible by a disruption of a resource type v.

Step 201 initiates the iterative process of steps 201-211, wherein aniteration of said iterative process may be performed for an affectedproject P. Said affected project P may be a project that has beenidentified as an affected project by step 115 of FIG. 1, and has beendirectly or indirectly rendered infeasible by a disruption of a resourcetype v. One full set of iterations of the iterative process of steps201-211 may consider unaffected instances of project P, where saidunaffected instances represent projects that are not directly orindirectly rendered infeasible by a disruption of a resource type v.

The iterative process of steps 201-211 may identify a resumption costCost_(P) for an affected project P, and may then add a value of saididentified Cost_(P) to a running total cost of resumption. Said totalcost of resumption may be a function of all the costs incurred by theresumption of some or all affected projects, wherein said affectedprojects have been directly or indirectly rendered infeasible by adisruption of a resource type v. In other embodiments, said total costof resumption may have been initialized to a null value or to some otherdefault value or functional result prior to commencement of a firstiteration of the iterative process of steps 201-211.

An iteration of the iterative process of steps 201-211 considers oneaffected project P. Instances of P are considered by said the iterativeprocess of steps 201-211 in order of decreasing priority, wherein agreater priority is associated with an instance of P deemed to be ofgreater importance to the organization.

Step 203 may apply one or more substitutability rules in order to resumean affected project P that has been rendered infeasible by a disruptionof a resource type v. Substitutability rules may permit an affectedproject to resume operation by allowing the affected project P toreplace unavailable units of a first resource type, wherein P isrendered infeasible by the lack of said unavailable units, withsubstitute units of an available second resource type.

It may not be possible to resume one or more projects by applyingsubstitutability rules. An organization may have no substitutabilityrules that are applicable to an affected project P and an initiallydisrupted resource type v when P has been directly or indirectlyrendered infeasible by a disruption of v. In some embodiments, defaultsubstitutability rules may be applied, wherein decisions about resourcesubstitutions may be made as a function of the distance betweenresources in a geographic hierarchy, or as a function of otherparameters, procedures, priorities, guidelines, or constraints specifiedby the organization.

Step 203 may apply one or more project P resumption plans in conjunctionwith, or in place of, substitutability rules, wherein a project Presumption plan may state a set of actions that may be taken in order toresume project P after P has been rendered infeasible by a disruption ofone or more resource types.

Upon completion of the application of substitutability rules orresumption plans, or upon the completion of other actions and proceduresassociated with the resumption of affected project P, step 203 may haveperformed steps that in aggregate may restore affected project P tooperation, wherein said P was directly or indirectly rendered infeasibleby a disruption of a resource type v.

In step 205, Cost_(P), wherein Cost_(P) is an accumulated cost to resumeaffected project P, may be initialized to a resource-shifting costincurred by shifting or reallocating units of available resources toaffected project P in order to replace units of one or more resourceinstances that had directly or indirectly been rendered unavailable tosaid project P by a disruption of a resource type v. Saidresource-shifting cost may be known as a substitution cost. Asubstitution cost may comprise other costs associated with theresumption of a project rendered infeasible by the unavailability of aresource required by said infeasible project.

A plurality of details may affect the value of said resource-shiftingcost, wherein said details may comprise, but are not limited to: a typeof, an instance of, or a number of units of resources to be shifted toan affected project P, or a type of, an instance of, or a number ofunits of said project P's resources to be replaced. Said details may bedefined by one or more applicable substitutability rules, resumptionplans, or other actions and procedures associated with the resumption ofsaid project P.

A resource-shifting cost may be defined as a cost to shift a project Pto available substitute resources. Substitutability rules, but notresumption plans, may identify a resource-shifting cost.

In embodiments, Cost_(P), a cost to resume project P, may be initializedto a null value, to a fixed value, or to some other value. Aresource-shifting cost may be initialized as a function of one or moredefault substitutability rules, wherein said one or more defaultsubstitutability rules may predict substitution costs as a function of ageographic distance between a replacing resource instance and a replacedresource instance, as a function of a length of a path on a geographichierarchy graph between a replacing resource instance and a replacedresource instance, or as a function of other parameters, guidelines,rules, or constraints specified by the organization. In embodimentswherein a resource-shifting cost or an other substitution cost may bepredicted or estimated as a function of a distance on a geographichierarchy graph between a replacing resource instance and a replacedresource instance, said costs may be predicted as a function of ashortest path on a geographic hierarchy graph between a replacingresource instance and a replaced resource instance. If a geographichierarchy graph is represented as a directed graph, a length of a pathon said geographic hierarchy graph may be a function of a number ofnodes along said path.

Step 207 may increase a Cost_(P) value by a time-delay cost for projectP, wherein aid Cost_(P) value may have been initialized in step 205.Said time-delay cost for project P may be a function of the length oftime required to resume project P by replacing one or more resourceinstances that had been directly or indirectly made unavailable toaffected project P by a disruption of a resource type v, and whereinsaid project P is infeasible during said length of time.

A time-delay cost may be a result of a contractual obligation to one ormore customers, of a productivity loss, of a direct or an indirecteffect of said project P's infeasibility on other projects or customers,of a cost that may be a function of a length of time during which saidproject P is infeasible, or of a cost that may be a function of a lengthof time required to resume said infeasible project P.

It is possible that no time-delay cost may be applicable to a project Pdirectly or indirectly rendered infeasible by a disruption of a resourcetype v. In embodiments, a time-delay cost may equal a null value, acontingent value, a functional result, a preset default value, or another value that may be associated with delays incurred during aresumption of said project P.

Step 209 may further increase the value of Cost_(P) by the value of oneor more other costs, wherein said one or more other costs may be director indirect results of steps taken to resume project P after P has beendirectly or indirectly rendered infeasible by a disruption of a resourcetype v. Said one or more other costs may be a function of direct orindirect effects of a disruption of a resource type v. It is possiblethat no said one or more other costs may be associated with a resumptionof a project P directly or indirectly rendered infeasible by adisruption of resource type v. Said one or more other costs may equal anull value, a contingent value, a value returned by a function, a presetdefault value, or to some other value.

In step 211, a total cost to the organization of resuming one or moreaffected projects that have directly or indirectly been renderedinfeasible by a disruption of a resource type v is incremented by avalue of Cost_(P) set in step 209, wherein said value of Cost_(P) set instep 209 is a total cost to resume only one instance of project P.

A current iteration of the iterative process of steps 201-211 mayterminate at a conclusion of step 211 and a next iteration of theiterative process of steps 201-211 may then begin considering a nextinstance of project P. Step 211 will have, at said time of termination,determined an interim value of a total cost to the organization ofresuming one or more projects that have been rendered directly orindirectly infeasible by a disruption of a resource type v. Step 211 ofsaid next iteration may increase said interim value by a value of a costto resume said next instance of project P.

If the iterative process of steps 201-211 has been performed for allprojects directly or indirectly affected by a disruption of a resourcetype v, the procedure of steps 201-211 of FIG. 2 may terminate.

Upon termination, the procedure of steps 201-211 may return anaccumulated total of direct and indirect costs to resume one or moreprojects directly or indirectly rendered infeasible by a disruption of aresource type v. Said accumulated total direct and indirect costs maycomprise a total cost to the organization of resuming all projects thathave directly or indirectly been rendered infeasible by a disruption ofresource type v.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of a computer system and computer programcode that may be used for automatically identifying critical resourcesof an organization, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

Aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.” Furthermore,in one embodiment, the present invention may take the form of a computerprogram product comprising one or more physically tangible (e.g.,hardware) computer-readable medium(s) or devices havingcomputer-readable program code stored therein, said program codeconfigured to be executed by a processor of a computer system toimplement the methods of the present invention. In one embodiment, thephysically tangible computer readable medium(s) and/or device(s) (e.g.,hardware media and/or devices) that store said program code whichimplement methods of the present invention do not comprise a signalgenerally, or a transitory signal in particular.

Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium(s) or devicesmay be used. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readablesignal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readablestorage medium or device may include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), anoptical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, acomputer-readable storage medium may be any physically tangible mediumor hardware device that can contain or store a program for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof.

Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object-oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the C programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described above and below withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according toembodiments of the present invention. It will be understood that eachblock of the flowchart illustrations, block diagrams, and combinationsof blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of FIG. 1and FIG. 2 can be implemented by computer program instructions. Thesecomputer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data-processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data-processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmabledata-processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium produce an article of manufacture, including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data-processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams FIG. 1 and FIG. 2illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possibleimplementations of systems, methods and computer program productsaccording to various embodiments of the present invention. In thisregard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special-purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special-purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

In FIG. 3, computer system 301 comprises a processor 303 coupled throughone or more I/O Interfaces 309 to one or more hardware data storagedevices 311 and one or more I/O devices 313 and 315.

Hardware data storage devices 311 may include, but are not limited to,magnetic tape drives, fixed or removable hard disks, optical discs,storage-equipped mobile devices, and solid-state random-access orread-only storage devices. I/O devices may comprise, but are not limitedto: input devices 313, such as keyboards, scanners, handheldtelecommunications devices, touch-sensitive displays, tablets, biometricreaders, joysticks, trackballs, or computer mice; and output devices315, which may comprise, but are not limited to printers, plotters,tablets, mobile telephones, displays, or sound-producing devices. Datastorage devices 311, input devices 313, and output devices 315 may belocated either locally or at remote sites from which they are connectedto I/O Interface 309 through a network interface.

Processor 303 is also connected to one or more memory devices 305, whichmay include, but are not limited to, Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Static RAM(SRAM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Field-Programmable GateArrays (FPGA), Secure Digital memory cards, SIM cards, or other types ofmemory devices.

At least one memory device 305 contains stored computer program code307, which is a computer program that comprises computer-executableinstructions. The stored computer program code includes a program thatimplements a method for automatically identifying critical resources ofan organization, in accordance with embodiments of the present inventionand may implement other embodiments described in this specification,including the methods illustrated in FIG. 1 AND FIG. 2. The data storagedevices 311 may store the computer program code 307. Computer programcode 307 stored in the storage devices 311 is configured to be executedby processor 303 via the memory devices 305. Processor 303 executes thestored computer program code 307.

Thus the present invention discloses a process for supporting computerinfrastructure, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deployingcomputer-readable code into the computer system 301, wherein the code incombination with the computer system 301 is capable of performing amethod for automatically identifying critical resources of anorganization.

Any of the components of the present invention could be created,integrated, hosted, maintained, deployed, managed, serviced, supported,etc. by a service provider who offers to facilitate a method ofautomatically identifying critical resources of an organization. Thusthe present invention discloses a process for deploying or integratingcomputing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer-readable codeinto the computer system 301, wherein the code in combination with thecomputer system 301 is capable of performing a method for automaticallyidentifying critical resources of an organization.

One or more data storage units 311 (or one or more additional memorydevices not shown in FIG. 3) may be used as a computer-readable hardwarestorage device having a computer-readable program embodied thereinand/or having other data stored therein, wherein the computer-readableprogram comprises stored computer program code 307. Generally, acomputer program product (or, alternatively, an article of manufacture)of computer system 301 may comprise said computer-readable hardwarestorage device.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for ensuring resilience of a businessfunction, the method comprising: a processor of a computerizedbusiness-continuity planning system, comprising software running on acomputer system, setting an initial value of a total available capacityof a first resource equal to a sum of a first available amount, a secondavailable amount, and a third available amount, where the firstavailable amount is an available amount of a first instance of the firstresource, where the second available amount is an available amount of asecond instance of the first resource, where the third available amountis an available amount of a third instance of the first resource, wherethe business function is supported in a critical manner by a plannedproject, where identifying, and reducing disruptions capable ofthreatening the availability of resources required by the plannedproject improves the resiliency of the business function, and where theplanned project requires the first, second, and third available amounts,respectively, of the first, second, and third instances; the processorreceiving a set of dependency relationships, where a first dependencyrelationship of the set of dependency relationships identifies that aninitial disruption of the first instance would cause a second disruptionof the second instance, and where a second dependency relationship ofthe set of dependency relationships identifies that a disruption ofeither the first instance or the second instance would cause a thirddisruption of the third instance; the processor determining that theinitial disruption results in: a reduction of the first available amountby a first-instance reduction amount, a reduction of the secondavailable amount by a second-instance reduction amount, and a reductionof the third available amount by a third-instance reduction amount; theprocessor, as a result of the determining, decreasing the totalavailable capacity of the first resource by a sum of the first-instancereduction amount, the second-instance reduction amount, and thethird-instance reduction amount; and the processor characterizing thefirst resource as being critical if a resumption cost exceeds aresumption-cost threshold value, where the resumption cost is a cost toresume the project after the project has been rendered impossible tocomplete due to the decreasing, where the resumption cost comprises atleast one of a substitution cost and a time-delay cost, where thesubstitution cost is a function of a cost of substituting an availableamount of a second resource to compensate for the reduction of thefirst, second, and third available amounts of the first resource, wherethe second resource is distinct from the first resource, where thetime-delay cost is a function of a duration of time required to performthe substituting, and where the time-delay cost is a further function ofa distance between a first geographic location of an instance of thefirst resource that is still available to the project and a secondgeographic location of an instance of the second resource that isavailable to the project.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingthe processor characterizing the first resource as being critical if thedecreased total available capacity is less than a capacity thresholdvalue.
 3. The method of claim 1, where the substituting is constrainedby a substitutability rule that specifies an amount of the secondresource required to compensate for the decrease in the total availablecapacity of the first resource.
 4. The method of claim 1, where all orpart of the set of dependency relationships is represented by a graphthat represents a pair of instances of the set of instances of the firstresource as a pair of nodes, and further represents a dependencyrelationship between the pair of instances as a directed path betweenthe pair of nodes.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding at least one support service for at least one of creating,integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readableprogram code in the computer system, where the computer-readable programcode in combination with the computer system is configured to implementthe setting, the receiving, the determining, and the decreasing.
 6. Acomputer program product, comprising a computer-readable hardwarestorage device having a computer-readable program code stored therein,the program code configured to be executed by a processor of acomputerized business-continuity planning system to implement a methodfor ensuring resilience of a business function, the method comprising:the processor setting an initial value of a total available capacity ofa first resource equal to a sum of a first available amount, a secondavailable amount, and a third available amount, where the firstavailable amount is an available amount of a first instance of the firstresource, where the second available amount is an available amount of asecond instance of the first resource, where the third available amountis an available amount of a third instance of the first resource, wherethe business function is supported in a critical manner by a plannedproject, where identifying and reducing disruptions capable ofthreatening the availability of resources required by the plannedproject improves the resiliency of the business function, and where theplanned project requires the first, second, and third available amounts,respectively, of the first, second, and third instances; the processorreceiving a set of dependency relationships, where a first dependencyrelationship of the set of dependency relationships identifies that aninitial disruption of the first instance would cause a second disruptionof the second instance; and where a second dependency relationship ofthe set of dependency relationships identifies that a disruption ofeither the first instance or the second instance would cause a thirddisruption of the third instance; the processor determining that theinitial disruption results in: a reduction of the first available amountby a first-instance reduction amount, a reduction of the secondavailable amount by a second-instance reduction amount, and a reductionof the third available amount by a third-instance reduction amount; theprocessor, as a result of the determining, decreasing the totalavailable capacity of the first resource by a sum of the first-instancereduction amount, the second-instance reduction amount, and d thethird-instance reduction amount; and the processor characterizing thefirst resource as being critical if a resumption cost exceeds aresumption-cost threshold value, where the resumption cost is a cost toresume the project after the project has been rendered impossible tocomplete due to the decreasing, where the resumption cost comprises atleast one of a substitution cost and a time-delay cost, where thesubstitution cost is a function of a cost of substituting an availableamount of a second resource to compensate for the reduction of thefirst, second, and third available amounts of the first resource, wherethe second resource is distinct from the first resource, and where thetime-delay cost is a function of a duration of time required to performthe substituting, and where the time-delay cost is a further function ofa distance between a first geographic location of an instance of thefirst resource that is still available to the project and a secondgeographic location of an instance of the second resource that isavailable to the project.
 7. The computer program product of claim 6,further comprising the processor characterizing the first resource asbeing critical if the decreased total available capacity is less than acapacity threshold value.
 8. The computer program product of claim 6,where the substituting is constrained by a substitutability rule thatspecifies an amount of the second resource required to compensate forthe decrease in the total available capacity of the first resource.
 9. Acomputerized business-continuity planning system comprising a processor,a memory coupled to the processor, and a computer-readable hardwarestorage device coupled to the processor, the storage device containingprogram code configured to be run by the processor via the memory toimplement a method for ensuring resilience of a business function, themethod comprising: the processor setting an initial value of a totalavailable capacity of a first resource equal to a sum of a firstavailable amount, a second available amount, and a third availableamount, where the first available amount is an available amount of afirst instance of the first resource, where the second available amountis an available amount of a second instance of the first resource, wherethe third available amount is an available amount of a third instance ofthe first resource, where the business function is supported in acritical manner by a planned project, where identifying and reducingdisruptions capable of threatening the availability of resourcesrequired by the planned project improves the resiliency of the businessfunction, and where the planned project requires the first, second, andthird available amounts, respectively, of the first, second, and thirdinstances; the processor receiving a set of dependency relationships,where a first dependency relationship of the set of dependencyrelationships identifies that an initial disruption of the firstinstance would cause a second disruption of the second instance, andwhere a second dependency relationship of the set of dependencyrelationships identifies that a disruption of either the first instanceor the second instance would cause a third disruption of the thirdinstance; the processor determining that the initial disruption resultsin: a reduction of the first available amount by a first-instancereduction amount, a reduction of the second available amount by asecond-instance reduction amount, and a reduction of the third availableamount by a third-instance reduction amount; the processor, as a resultof the determining, decreasing the total available capacity of the firstresource by a sum of the first-instance reduction amount, thesecond-instance reduction amount, and the third-instance reductionamount; and the processor characterizing the first resource as beingcritical if a resumption cost exceeds a resumption-cost threshold value,where the resumption cost is a cost to resume the project after theproject has been rendered impossible to complete due to the decreasing,where the resumption cost comprises at least one of a substitution costand a time-delay cost, where the substitution cost is a function of acost of substituting an available amount of a second resource tocompensate for the reduction of the first, second, and third availableamounts of the first resource, where the second resource is distinctfrom the first resource, and where the time-delay cost is a function ofa duration of time required to perform the substituting, and where thetime-delay cost is a further function of a distance between a firstgeographic location of an instance of the first resource that is stillavailable to the project and a second geographic location of an instanceof the second resource that is available to the project.
 10. Thecomputer system of claim 9, further comprising the processorcharacterizing the first resource as being critical if the decreasedtotal available capacity is less than a capacity threshold value. 11.The computer system of claim 9, where the substituting is constrained bya substitutability rule that specifies an amount of the second resourcerequired to compensate for the decrease in the total available capacityof the first resource.